Male Reproductive System Quiz

Male Reproductive System Histology

• The male reproductive system consists of the testes, genital ducts, and associated glands

• Testes: Paired oval organs (approximately 4x3x3 cm) located in the scrotum;

• Tunica albuginea: Irregular dense connective tissue surrounding each testis

• Tunica vasculosa: Highly vascular loose connective tissue immediately deep to the tunica albuginea, forms the vascular capsule

• The connective tissue septa of the testes radiate from the mediastinum to subdivide each testis into approximately 250 pyramid-shaped lobules.

• Each lobule houses 1–4 blindly ending seminiferous tubules.

• Richly vascularized and innervated loose connective tissue surrounds the seminiferous tubules

• Interstitial cells of Leydig secrete testosterone.

• Seminiferous tubules: Contain spermatogenic cells (spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids); and Sertoli cells

• Spermatogonia, Primary Spermatocytes, Secondary Spermatocytes, spermatids, and Sertoli cells are observed in the seminiferous tubule

• Extra-testicular genital ducts: Consist of the epididymis, ductus deferens, and ductus ejaculatorius

• Epididymis: Highly coiled ductus epididymidis is composed of pseudostratified columnar epithelium surrounded by connective tissue and smooth muscle. Epithelial cells have stereocilia (long microvilli)

• Ductus deferens (Vas deferens): Thick-walled muscular tube; has a mucosa of pseudostratified columnar epithelium; with stereocilia; and a lamina propria.

• Thick outer wall of smooth muscle (three layers), collagen fibers, and a thin layer of fibroelastic connective tissue.

• Accessory genital glands: Paired seminal vesicles, single prostate gland, and paired bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands.

• Seminal vesicles: Highly convoluted, tubular structures; located between the bladder and prostate.

• Mucosa is lined by a pseudostraitified columnar epithelium (short basal cells and low columnar).

• Contain secretions that make up 70% of semen volume, including fructose for spermatozoa energy. Characteristic pale yellow colour due to lipochrome pigments.

• Prostate gland: Largest and most numerous glands, forming the bulk of the prostate.

• Consist of mucosal, peripheral submucosal and main glands.

• Their lumina frequently house round to oval prostatic concretions (corpora amylacea), composed of calcified glycoproteins; numbers increase with age.

• Glands are distributed in three zones: central, transition, and peripheral, and ducts open into the urethra. Components are lined with simple to pseudostratified to columnar epithelium surrounded by connective tissue and smooth muscle.

• Bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands: Small, paired glands near the base of the penis, just proximal to the beginning of the membranous urethra.

• Compound tubuloalveolar glands, whose epithelium varies in structure from simple cuboidal to simple columnar.

• Their secretions are a thick, slippery fluid that lubricates the urethra.

• Penis: Composed of three erectile tissues enclosed by a tunica albuginea.

• Two corpora cavernosa (dorsally), and a corpus spongiosum (ventrally, enclosing the penile portion of urethra).

• Tunica albuginea of corpora cavernosa are discontinuous, allowing communication between them.

• Corpus spongiosum ends in the glans, pierced by the end of the urethra.